Sponges of the New Caledonian lagoon - IRD

202
Sponges
of the New
Caledonian
lagoon
Repent
Growth predominantly horizontal; the
basal attachment area is large in proportion
to body bulk, though it may not
be continuous.
Reticulate
Condition of skeletal architecture whereby
spongin fibres and/or spicule
columns branch and rejoin (anastomose)
with each other to form two- or
three-dimensional meshes; any interlocking
anastomosing skeleton, either
fibre or spicule.
Rhabd
Oxeote or strongylote microsclere; also
a term used to describe a curved end
of a spicule.
Sclerocyte
Anucleolate motile secretory cell which
produces spicules.
Sclerodermites
Aggregate of crystals forming a microstructural
unit of the calcareous skeleton.
secondary fibre
A fibre disposed without marked orientation
to the surface; connecting primary
fibres.
Secondary fibre tract
Minor fibre or spicule tract interconnecting
the ascending primary fibres or
tracts (cr. primary).
Sedentary animals
Animals in which the adults do not
move by usual forms of locomotion
(cilia, pseudopods, legs, etc.), but
usually live attached to the substrate;
adult sponges are typically sedentary,
although their larvae swim through the
water column using cilia and/or f1agellae.
Sigma
A microsclere in which a single axis is
curved or contorted to a 'c' or's' shape.
Sigmaspirae
Contorted sigmas of one revolution in a
spiral manner.
Siliceous
Composed of silica, a glass-like material.
Spermatocyte
Male reproductive unicell.
Spheraster
An aster with a large centrum and
many short conical rays.
Spherulitic
Refers to aragonite skeleton in
Asrrosclero; globular centric or excentric
arrangement of crystal fibres radiating
from a common centre.
Spherulous cells
Cell filled with large round spherules
which occupy most of the cell volume;
secretory cells located in the mesohyl.